Journalism Thesis

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

240 Hours

Admission to the second year of the Master of Journalism program.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

A research topic selected in consultation with the supervisor. Enrolment in the thesis is across two consecutive semesters and students must enrol in the subject in each semester to ensure they are meeting the full 37.5 point requirement for the year-long subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

· be able to mount a sustained scholarly argument;

· have become familiar with the research and theoretical literature in their chosen field;

· have developed a capacity for engaging with and synthesising critical and analytical debates; and

· be able to devise and test new research methods as required.

A thesis of 12,000 words written over two consecutive semesters 100% (due at the end of the second semester of study). Theses submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Theses submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Theses submitted after two weeks of the assessment due date without a formally approved application for special consideration or an extension will only be marked on a pass/fail basis if accepted.

• Deacon, David, Michael Pickering, Peter Golding and Graham Murdoch (eds) (1999), Researching Communications: A Practical Guide to Methods on Media and Cultural Analysis, Arnold, London
• Hanson, Anders, Cottle, Simon, Negrine, Ralph and Newbold, Chris (eds) (1998) Mass Communication Research Methods, Macmillan, Basingstoke.
• McQuail, Denis (2010), McQuail's Mass Communication Theory, Sage, London.
• Bertrand, Ina and Peter Hughes (2005), Media Research Methods: Audiences, Institutions, Texts, Palgrave, Basingstoke

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

· be able to conceptualise and execute a substantial original research project;

· be able to interact productively with a supervisor when reviewing drafts;

· be able to display a high level of writing skills;

· be able to consolidate their skills in research and scholarly citation; and

· be able to plan and manage their time and research resources over an extended project.

Note: the minor thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.